The Camino, or the Way of St. James, is an adventure of a lifetime that more and more people are choosing to embark on. Croats have been known as pilgrims in Europe since ancient times - even Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy mentions the character of a Croatian pilgrim, and Croats were among the first Camino to the pilgrims. Whether you go for a walk Camino France 830 kilometers long or some of of the Croatian Camino route be sure to pay attention to the backpack and what you need to take with you.
When you decide to walk the 800-kilometer Camino France, which walkers from all over the world have been walking for years, preparation is important. The most important thing is to know what you need to bring on the trip, because everything you bring will be carried on your back for a month every day. You have to know that you will cover about 25 kilometers a day on average and every gram in the bag is important.
What do you need and what you can't do without?
First you have to choose a backpack very well. The size of the backpack and its characteristics are extremely important. If you ask me 30 or 35 liters is quite enough and all over it will be a weight that your body does not need.
The most important thing on the Camin is definitely the shoes. Trampled footwear in which you have walked at least 50 kilometers is the best choice. What you must not do at all is to head to the Camino in new footwear that you did not tread well on them that did not fit your foot. The number of larger shoes is definitely a recommendation because daily walking results in swollen feet and your shoes should never be "dark".
Depending on the age of the year in which you will walk the Camino you choose shoes. If you walk it during the summer, walking sandals are a great choice and trekking sneakers. If you are walking in the spring or late fall, you will need hiking boots, but you must have waterproof shoes at all times of the year. Also flip flops in which you will take a shower in the shared bathrooms, but also in which you will stay when you are not walking, are definitely something you need in your backpack.
Socks are important
You may not have thought about socks, but they are extremely important. Socks must be seamless and in specialty stores you will find long walking socks that will allow your feet to stay dry which is an important prerequisite to not getting blisters. Blisters are the greatest torment of pilgrims on the Camin and they can make your life on the Camin very bitter. To prevent blisters, you must bring special anti-blister creams that you apply to your feet in the morning before walking, but also every time you stop to rest on the road.
The most important piece of advice is to take off your shoes and socks every few hours and rest your feet. Then you re-lubricate your feet and only after you have done that are you ready to walk on. If you stick to this you will cross the road without blisters. I am without a single blister.
A secret they didn't tell you
There is another secret that no one has told you. On the Camin you will often come across streams, streams and canals. Whenever you come across them, stop, undress and step into the water. Cool your feet and this will save you from swelling, blisters, but it will also rest your feet so much that after that you will leave fresh and rested as if it were the first kilometer. Believe this is extremely important and do not be lazy to stop and give yourself as much time as necessary to rest your feet.
The backpack should not weigh more than 10 percent of your weight
The golden rule is that the backpack does not weigh more than 10 percent of your body weight. Although experience says that it is too much and 6 kilograms is a weight that you should not exceed.
3 T-shirts, 3 pairs of socks, as many pieces of underwear and one long and one shorts, a waterproof jacket and one fleece tracksuit plus a T-shirt and tights or a tracksuit in which you will sleep and stay after showering during the holidays are all you need. In addition, you clearly need personal hygiene items. A toothbrush and toothpaste concentrated so you only wear a miniature tube is a great choice. You will also find one towel that dries quickly and is not heavy in specially equipped sports shops.
The tip that saved me was the choice of soap, namely one Lash soap that you use both for showering and washing your hair, but also for washing your laundry. It solves the complete need for personal hygiene and fits in one soap box. It is good to have some greasy cream or salve as well as a foot cream after walking, which usually comes in a package with the cream you apply before walking.
A trick on how to reduce the last grams in a backpack
One colleague gave me advice, which may seem ridiculous to you but believe me it makes sense. Cut labels out of all your wardrobe and everything you wear. When I took off all the labels and weighed them they weighed 130 grams. All the cosmetics weighed so much so don’t be lazy and cut the labels.
When packing everything in a backpack make sure you put on the bottom of the backpack what you won’t need during the walk. So spare shoes, clothes and cosmetics. Water, blister creams and painkillers must always be available to you. As for medications you have them at every turn and you don’t have to worry or carry large quantities. Take ibuprofen with you in case of muscle inflammation and fever and blister patches. It is not out of the question and a cream or gel for muscles and painkillers.
And finally, when you have chosen everything you can't do without, everything you put in the backpack is carefully arranged in such a way that you don't pack the air in the backpack, that is, you roll and arrange everything so that it takes up the least possible space in your backpack.
Do you need a sleeping bag?
You don't really need it. Although most wear it, you will actually only use a liner when there is no bedding in the hostels. So think carefully about whether you are going to carry the whole sleeping bag. Most hostels today have bedding and everything you need, but your liner will mean extra security for many if you come across accommodation that may not meet your standard of cleanliness, or you come across plastic sheets that are uncomfortable to sleep in or disposable bedding that can be rough. to the touch.
When you have packed the backpack a couple of days before the trip walk with it and try to set it in the most comfortable position. Not bad a few miles to try it out and check the weight you’re carrying. And don't worry, you will leave everything in excess… you won't be the only one who does it and you will surely throw away some things along the way…
And go on Camino and enjoy it every mile. Read how I experienced it here.
You can also walk your Camino in Croatia, as we wrote about HERE. A group of Croatian Camino enthusiasts gathered in the Brotherhood of Saint James decided to restore the rich Croatian Camino tradition, so a project was launched to restore the medieval Camino routes through Croatia. Camino France is also under the protection of UNESCO as part of the World Heritage.
They are right now in Croatia active Camino Krk, Camino Imota , Camino Podravina i Camino Sibenik, starting in autumn Camino southern Istria, and the plan is Camino Banovina. Reportedly, several more Camino routes are being seriously discussed in Croatia, so the story about Camino trails in Croatia is becoming more and more interesting.
Photos: Dorian Dražić-Karalić
